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55 Gallon Drum feeder

I have access to a few 55 gallon drums for free and I was thinking about making a feeder. Would you guys go the timer and automatic way or would you do a gravity deal where the feel simply flows out of the holes cut around the bottom? I I do a gravity feeder, whats the best way to do it with a drum? Just curious what your opinions are.

I have made two different 55 gallon feeders in the past. I made one with legs that had a timed spinner mechanism on it. I had problems with animals spinning corn out of it, pieces of cob getting stuck and not allowing corn to escape, and dealing with batteries running out. I then made a gravity feeder that sits on the ground with a wooden base. I had cut 4 horizontal holes in the bottom where the corn could pour out. The problem with this type of feeder is the coons would eat more corn than the deer. I have now decided to make my own "Boss Buck" gravity feeder. I ordered the Boss Buck 3-way gravity feeder head and funnel. I also ordered the belly band leg kit. I paid $125 for the parts. I am going to use a plastic 55 gallon drum to reduce weight. I will then just use conduit legs. I should have this feeder built for less than $150. The Boss Buck feeder that is sold commercially and the same size of the one I am building costs $300 plus tax.

I get those plastic barrels for $10, and then use old T-post for legs. I cut a hole in the bottom and use 3" pvc fittings to make a gravity flow feeder just like the boss buck feeders. When I'm done I have about $30 wrapped up into them. Here a picture of one.

Collecting Bone 170" at a time

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - Margaret Thatcher

I like spin feeders myself but for gravity type I'd bolt a closet flange (for toilet) to the bottom, add a length of PVC to about the desired height then put a "T" on the bottom of that. To keep the feed from flowing out you could add a very short piece of PVC with an end cap (mostly cut away) to the "T". Make sense??

I like spin feeders myself but for gravity type I'd bolt a closet flange (for toilet) to the bottom, add a length of PVC to about the desired height then put a "T" on the bottom of that. To keep the feed from flowing out you could add a very short piece of PVC with an end cap (mostly cut away) to the "T". Make sense??

Yes it makes sense. You could prob get one of those handheld heater/torch from Lowes and warm that PVC until you get a 10 degree bend out of it.

This is what I use it hold 200 lbs. of corn it will last 7 to 8 weeks paid only 95 $ for the hole set up.

man that thing is so low. it looks like the deer could just lick the spinner plate around to get it to make the corn drop. lol
is that the moultrie easy fill ? i have the moultrie pro hunter one, you can get it for about $10 more, i have to stand on my atv or tailgate
to pour corn in it. it dosen't matter to me though, cause i only have to fill it 2 times during the season. get about 7 to 8 weeks also.

I have 4 hanging 55 gallon feeders on my hunting lease. All with 12volt feeder motors and solar panels that allows the batteries to last 3-4 months on a charge. I spin 3 morning feedings and 3 evening feedings for 3 seconds each 30 minutes apart.

My drum hold appox. 350 pounds of corn. I have to hang them because we have a bear problem when using tripods,,,,they rip the feeder down. Gravity feeders will attract more bucks than spin feeders,but again the bears destroy anything attached to the ground. I have no choice but to use spin feeders. Plus gravity feeders allow bucks food so that they can be nocturnal easier.

timmed feeders are the way to go for sure. with the price of corn what it is, along with gas (sure it will be close to $4 by hunting season), they can pay for theirself quickly.
they will save you alot of money in the long run. i started using them last year, after i saw how much money they saved me, i am hooked.

man that thing is so low. it looks like the deer could just lick the spinner plate around to get it to make the corn drop. lol
is that the moultrie easy fill ? i have the moultrie pro hunter one, you can get it for about $10 more, i have to stand on my atv or tailgate
to pour corn in it. it dosen't matter to me though, cause i only have to fill it 2 times during the season. get about 7 to 8 weeks also.

The feeder stands 6' tall. The spinner plate is surrounded by a varmint cage there is no way for the deer to lick the spinner. I put 200 lbs a week before Christmas still have some left on it. I have it feeding in the morning and the evening. I seen lots of deer tracks around it so I put my camera back out and see whats coming to it.

The feeder stands 6' tall. The spinner plate is surrounded by a varmint cage there is no way for the deer to lick the spinner. I put 200 lbs a week before Christmas still have some left on it. I have it feeding in the morning and the evening. I seen lots of deer tracks around it so I put my camera back out and see whats coming to it.

well if that spinner plate is 6 feet off the ground then you have some giant deer. i can clearly see the second deer in your photo, its eyes are level with the spinner plate.
i have seen photos on here of deer standing on their back legs, and licking the spinner plate to make it drop corn. the varmint guard really doesen't help. i have them on some
of my hanging feeders and have gotten pictures of tree rats and coons sticking their arms in to spin the plate. i can stick my finger through the guard and spin the plate, if i can do that, you know a deer can lick it, or varmint can spin it. on a tripod, it is just tough for the varmints to get to the spinner, like on a hanging one, if close to a tree. it will keep them from
tearing it up though.

Go with a timed feeder, one guy mentioned "Boss Buck". They make some great varmit cages that will work with drums. Down here in Texas we go BIG! My feeder will hold 2500 lbs of corn/protein. I put out about 75 lbs a week. Realize, I hunt down by San Angelo, there isn't alot of stuff for deer to eat down there and feeders are a big part of there lives. My pics are off a trial cam and AT doesn't support that file type, sorry

I have a 55 gal drum that I cut 4 holes about 3 in high and 5 in wide. It just gravity feeds and the deer keep it working even in the snow. It just sits on the ground but I would also suggest using hay for feed also cause deer need more than just corn in their diet. Also if there are plenty of deer in the area they will empty that feeder really quick.

well if that spinner plate is 6 feet off the ground then you have some giant deer. i can clearly see the second deer in your photo, its eyes are level with the spinner plate.
i have seen photos on here of deer standing on their back legs, and licking the spinner plate to make it drop corn. the varmint guard really doesen't help. i have them on some
of my hanging feeders and have gotten pictures of tree rats and coons sticking their arms in to spin the plate. i can stick my finger through the guard and spin the plate, if i can do that, you know a deer can lick it, or varmint can spin it. on a tripod, it is just tough for the varmints to get to the spinner, like on a hanging one, if close to a tree. it will keep them from
tearing it up though.

6' tall to the top of the feeder lol. So far I haven't had any pictures of deer trying to spin the the plate

ks bow hunter,
What do you do to keep the corn from just pouring out?? Did you install a small catch lip at the end of each tube??

No, put an 8" piece of 3" pipe in the tee that had been cut at a 45 deg angle.

Originally Posted by Fireman324

Ks bow hunter -
How did you attach the legs to the feeder? I cant really tell from your pic... Thanks

I rolled a piece of sheet metal into a cone shaped ring that matched the profile of the barrel. Then I weld the legs to it and bolted the ring to the barrel. You could probably just use a piece of flat bar.

Collecting Bone 170" at a time

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - Margaret Thatcher